GOBET Nicolas Les Anciens Minéralogistes du Royaume de France; avec des Notes.

Ferguson, I, pp. 332-33. Partington, III, pp. 65-66 ; not in Hoover, Cole or Neville.

First edition, very rare.

This work contains a large number of French texts on mineralogy and geology from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, most of which cannot be found in original editions. It includes texts by Belon (1546-49), Garrault (1579), J. de Malus Pére (1600), J. de Malus Fils (1632), Réaumur (1718), Hautin de Villars (1728), Hellot (1756), the complete works of Baron de Beausoleil and his wife Martine Bertereau (17th century), César d'Arcons (1667), Louis Savot (1627), etc. Gobet added to this collection numerous personal notes and a large section devoted to chemistry and alchemy, such as the bio-bibliography of the alchemist Gaston Dulco and his reflections on the Great Work.

"Nicolas Gobert (1735-1781), of a family from Auvergne, studied mineralogy, travelled with Jars in 1762 to visit metal works, and later became librarian to the Count of Provence and secretary of the council of the Count of Artois. He composed several works and issued an edition Essays of Jean Rey in 1777. His book on the history of mineralogy reprints some earlier works which are often unobtainable" (Partington).

Very good copy.